Because this is the first exploratory study of this important question, we do not pretend to have the final answers. The monetary estimates presented in this report represent only part of the full economic costs of health inequalities, and the potential benefits of reducing these inequalities. It is likely that a strong economic case for reducing health inequalities can be made. In order to arrive at more complete and more definitive estimates, however, further research will be needed, both into the quantification of health inequalities around Europe, and into the economic consequences of ill-health generally, and health inequalities particularly
